Invitations to the opening of Govett’s Leap Lookout in 1889 promised “a banquet on a precipice – speeches in mid air.” More than a century on, a mere blink in geological history, the Blue Mountains view from Govett’s Leap retains its power to steal your breath. Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls plunge 180m down faulted sandstone cliffs to the right and left and the Grose Valley...

Birthplace of the world’s oldest surf lifesaving club (1907), and a family favourite since the 19th century, Bondi Beach is the trail head for a lovely amble along cliffs fringing coastal suburbs. The Bondi-to-Coogee Coast Walk meanders 6.6km south, with boardwalks and footpaths following the voluptuous curves of beaches and honeycombed sandstone cliffs. The walk is do-able in 2 hours each...

Tiny Bouddi National Park, on NSW’s central coast, was dedicated in 1935 after a campaign inspired by Sydney lawyer Marie Byles. She explored the area on foot in 1922 with three girlfriends, one a trouser-wearing pistol-toting lass named Ester Waite. What enthralled Ms Byles were the coastal cliffs: great walls of cracked sandstone battlements besieged by crashing waves. Wind-tolerant walkers can see this splendour on...

Volcanoes are commonly perceived and portrayed as violent and destructive geothermal events. But the creative powers of lava under pressure are plain to see even before you set foot on a walking track in Warrumbungle National Park, in central north New South Wales. The grand scale of this artistry becomes clear treading the 14.5km Grand High Tops loop. How could you not stare at...

On sunny days, SydneyHarbour lives up to its reputation as one of the world’s most spectacular harbours. But you don’t need a million-dollar income to enjoy the million-dollar views. You can watch the pleasure boats and green-and-yellow commuter ferries, the swimmers and stick-chasing dogs, from the Manly Scenic Walkway. Linking the Spit Bridge, at Seaforth, and the world-famous beach suburb of Manly...

Built between 1826 and 1836, the Old Great North Road was a remarkable feat of colonial engineering. It is also one of 11 Australian convict sites inscribed as World Heritage in 2010. Treading it is a bushwalking New South Wales experience like no other. Some sections of the original road are now well-used roads, stone bridges and restored culverts the only clues to the...